2019-2021

The numbers are stark — one in four children in Greece face extreme poverty, making the country the worst in the European Union, according to official statistics by Eurostat.

Medical care, education, social integration and other things we take for granted in our home countries are lacking for millions of children in Greece — a direct result of years of crippling austerity and unemployment, not to mention the worst refugee crisis in the country since World War II.

The Greek America Foundation will partner with six Greece-based charities whose work directly impacts all facets of children in Greek society — from birth, all the way through their developing years.

The #ChildrenOfGreece campaign will aim to build a sense of awareness among North Americans about the challenges faced by the most vulnerable members of Greek society — the children.

Throughout Greece's contemporary history, children have always been the victims most impacted by war, poverty and social unrest and throughout these extreme moments, the Greek diaspora, particularly in North America, has always responded in a resounding way.

The following charities in Greece will receive funds from Project Hope for Greece during our 2019-2021 campaign. In all cases, we shall receive financial documentation from each charity and monitor their fine work to ensure that all funds donated on behalf of our generous donors help the people they seek to serve.

ELIZA

Eliza Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children is the only Greek charitable organization (NGO), with the exclusive purpose of providing protection and care to children who have suffered or run the risk of suffering abuse or neglect. In pursuit of its mission, ELIZA is guided by the following principles: a) respect of children’s rights as citizens of the world regardless of culture, nationality or religion, b) multidisciplinary scientific approach and use of evidence-based practice c) transparency and integrity. Visit website here.

The Home Project

This Athens-based non-profit organization addresses the needs of refugee and child migrants who arrive in Greece alone. The Home Project moves children from the streets, camps, police stations and detention centers and brings them into shelters where they receive support, protection and social integration services. The organization currently operates 11 shelters where more than 220 children receive a holistic network of services covering food, shelter, material, medical, psychosocial, and legal, support. The Home Project provides security, dignity and decent living conditions for the most vulnerable — unaccompanied refugee minors — with its ultimate goal being to Help, Overcome, Motivate, Empower them. Visit website here.

HOPE Genesis

Founded in 2015, Hope Genesis’ provides comprehensive medical care and treatment for pregnant women who live in remote areas or isolated islands until the day they give birth. With a staff that includes various medical professionals such as gynecologists, nurses, midwives and administrators, the organization's mission is to contribute to the revival, development and the gradual increase of Greece’s population. More than 50 large Greek corporations have partnered with Hope Genesis and support its daily operations. The organization is currently active on 28 islands where communities have recorded zero or very few births since 2015. Visit website here.

Ark of the World

Founded in 1998 by Greek Orthodox priest Father Antonios, Ark of the World provides shelter for abandoned children in Athens. Ark currently cares for 200 children — infants to 18 years old — and although the vast majority are Greek, the organization welcomes children from all backgrounds. Ark strives to relieve these children of poverty, hunger, illnesses, misery, exploitation and illiteracy. In addition to the children's well-being, the organization also focuses on keeping families together and, when possible, not institutionalizing children and instead keeping them with their mothers. Ark provides monthly financial support — rent, water, electricity bills, etc. — for no income mothers. Moreover, Ark helps these mothers to find employment so that they may become self-dependent. Visit website here.

METAdrasi

Founded in 2010, METAdrasi facilitates the reception and integration of unaccompanied refugee children and immigrants in Greece. The organization aims to fill crucial gaps in areas neglected either by public authorities or other NGOs. Through a safety net of activities, METAdrasi protects unaccompanied children who have been separated from or lost their parents and safely escorts them from detention centers to suitable accommodation facilities. These facilities provide children with legal aid, certification as victims of torture and other humanitarian support. Furthermore, the facilities help children re-integrate themselves into society through programs such as Greek language lessons and work placement opportunities. The children also have receive linguistic accommodation through the provision of 350 interpreters trained and certified by METAdrasi.Visit website here.

SOS Children's Villages

SOS Children’s Villages in Greece focuses on helping families to cultivate a nurturing home environment for their children. The organization not only helps families care for their children but also provides alternative care once the children can no longer live with their own families. SOS’s specific programs include the Family Strengthening Program, which works directly with families, many of which are single parents looking after children alone. The organization provides family services such as parental counseling as well as material, social and emotional support. If, despite SOS’s assistance, children can no longer live with their families, the organization offers them a new home in one of its villages. Visit website here.

Give Hope to the Children of Greece

The power of Project Hope for Greece comes from the generosity of our supporters. Join us in providing hope for the #ChildrenOfGreece.

Ambassadors of Hope

Become an Ambassador in two different ways.

Donate a minimum of $1000

Click below to make your donation and join our growing list of 2019-21 Ambassadors of Hope.

Raise a minimum of $1000

How you do it is up to you. You can host an event at home, go all out with a full-fledge dinner dance and epic party or even donate your birthday. For business owners, you can organize fundraisers around product launches or promotions.

The Greek America Foundation proudly announces the launch of our Project Hope for Greece #ChildrenOfGreece campaign that seeks to raise funds and awareness for specific charities in Greece. Since 2013, with the support of donors throughout the United States and Canada, we’ve raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for worthwhile charities and individuals in Greece. In addition […]

Throughout modern Greek history, children have always been the biggest victims of war, poverty and social unrest. During these extreme moments, the Greek diaspora, particularly in North America, always responded in a resounding way. Today, one in four children in Greece face extreme poverty, making the country the worst place for children in the European […]

Since 2013, with the support of donors throughout the United States and Canada, the Greek America Foundation has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for worthwhile charities and individuals in Greece through our Project Hope for Greece campaign. In addition to numerous beneficiary charities, we’ve rebuilt fishing boats for fisherman, provided tons of food and […]

Our Project Hope for Greece #ChildrenOfGreece campaign aims to raise funds and awareness for six charities in Greece — with your support. We have chosen each of these charities because we support their work, which strives to alleviate challenges faced by the most vulnerable members of Greek society today — the children. In all cases, we shall […]

When a devastating earthquake hit the island of Lesvos in June 2017, the Greek America Foundation board of directors had just settled into their biennial meeting in New York City. One of the first items of business was to pass an emergency resolution to undertake a fundraising campaign to provide support the people who lost […]

School bells rang this week for the first time in the village of Vrysa on the island of Lesvos, since a devastating earthquake leveled more than a thousand buildings on June 12th. Miraculously, school had just been dismissed on the fateful day of the earthquake and no children were harmed, while the building was completely […]

Far away in Beverly Hills, California— one man with no direct connection to two fisherman in a tiny Greek fishing village of Lesvos— made a gift that would not only impact the fishermen, but their entire community. Thanos and Kostas were amongst the Greek islanders from the tiny village of Skala Sikamnias who were thrust […]

Another Project Hope for Greece grant was fulfilled on July 28, 2017 to Mama Maria, a selfless woman who has cooked thousands of meals for refugees arriving on her island of Samos. Back in 2015 she transformed her Taverna into a make-shift shelter, feeding dozens at a time and laying out blankets at night to […]

A team from the Greek America Foundation visited the village of Vrysa on the island of Lesvos on July 20 where a series of devastating earthquakes hit, leaving one woman dead and almost 1,000 buildings damaged or destroyed completely. Gregory Pappas, founder and president of the foundation, and Jennifer Kellogg, executive director, were given access […]

The Greek America Foundation Board of Directors voted unanimously Friday a their biennial meeting to launch an emergency relief campaign for the Greek island of Lesvos following a catastrophic earthquake last week. Individual board members that were present kicked off the campaign with more than $30,000 in individual donations at the meeting. An appeal to […]